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In the National Hockey League, a regular game between two teams who are close to each other in the standings and in the same division or conference. The teams fighting for position have the opportunity to win a game while assuring that their opponent loses, thus putting four standings points (two for each team) into play.

500

(also known as .500) 50% or even. Refers to points earned. It is a percentage of points earned in relation to the number of points available. Thus, with a record of 1-1-1 (wins-losses-ties/extra time losses) a team is 500, even though they have 1 win and two losses. They have earned 3 of a possible 6 points.

A pass or shot that is taken from the backside of the blade of the stick.

Backchecking

Rushing back to the defensive zone in response to an opposing team's attack.

Blocker

The rectangular pad that a goaltender wears on the stick-holding hand. (See waffle pad.)

Blue line

The lines separating the attacking/defending zones from the neutral zone.[1]

Blueliner

A defenseman

Boarding

Checking a defenseless player in the back, causing them to violently fall/impact into the boards. This typically leads to the face/head of the unaware player to hit first, causing greater chance of injury. Usually a penalty.[2]

A style of goaltending wherein the goalie tends to drop to their knees to cover the lower half of the net with his or her leg pads.

Butt-ending

The act of jabbing an opponent with the knob of their stick. A major plus game misconduct penalty[3]

Bar Down

When the puck hits the crossbar and goes in the net. Also called Bar South

Bender

Short for ankle bender, a derogatory term for a player who bends their ankles when skating.

Bully

A method used to start or restart play in informal hockey or shinny, played without a referee. The puck is placed between two opposing players. The players tap the flat sides of their sticks three times and then go for the puck.

A forward position whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice.

Change on the fly

Substituting a player from the bench during live play, i.e. not at a faceoff.

Charging

The act of taking more than three strides while delivering a body check or leaving their feet to deliver a hit. A penalty.[4]

Check to the head

A hit where the primary contact is made to an opponent's head. A major or match penalty in the NHL if such a hit is made from a lateral or blind side position.[5] In other leagues and organizations, any check to the head can be a minor or major penalty, often including an automatic misconduct or game misconduct penalty.

Checking from behind

The act of hitting an opponent from the back when they are unaware the hit is coming. A penalty.[6]

Deliberately causing a stoppage of play; player is penalized with a minor penalty.

Delayed offside

If a player enters the attacking zone ahead of the puck but does not touch it, the play is offside but no whistle is blown immediately, thus creating a delayed offside. When all players from the offside team leave their offensive zone and go into the neutral zone the linesman cancels the offside infraction. Conversely, if the offending team touches the puck before leaving their offensive zone the whistle is blown for the offside infraction.

Delayed penalty

When a penalty is called, the referee will raise his or her arm to indicate that one is being called, but if the team who committed the infraction is not in control of the puck, no whistle will be blown until a player from the offending team controls the puck. In this situation the other team will usually exchange their goalie for an extra skater to increase their chances of scoring before the penalty is called.

Delayed whistle

An official waits to blow his whistle, usually due to a delayed offside or delayed penalty call.

Dive

When a player embellishes contact made against him in order to entice the referee into calling a penalty against the opposition; however sometimes this ends up in a "unsportsmanlike conduct" penalty being called against the embellishing player.

Drop pass

When a player passes the puck behind himself to a teammate.

Dump and chase

An offensive strategy used to get the puck over the opposing team's blue line and into the corners where players can race to get it, thereby moving the play into the attacking zone.

Duster

A derogatory term for a player who always sits on the bench. The reason they are called dusters is because they "collect dust".

Dangle

When a player does a series of dekes in a row to get around the opposing players.

The method used to begin play at the beginning of a period or after a stoppage of play. The two teams line up in opposition to each other. One player from each team attempts to gain control of the puck after it is dropped by an official between their sticks onto a face-off spot on the ice.[10]

One of nine painted circles on the ice where a faceoff may occur. Two in each attacking/defending zone, two each near the corners of the neutral zone, and one at centre ice.[1]

Fighting

When two or more players punch each other repeatedly. A major penalty, and results in a game misconduct in many leagues.[11]

Fight strap

A strap inside the back of the jersey that loops through the belt, so that the jersey may not be pulled over a player's head during a fight.

Five on three

(also called a two-man advantage) is when one team has had two players sent to the penalty box. This leaves the opponent with five skaters (i.e., not including the goaltender) to penalized team's three.

A Gordie Howe hat trick is when one player scores a goal, notches an assist and gets into a fight all in the same game (a natural Gordie Howe hat trick occurs when a player does all three in one period.

Grinder

Hockey grinder A player valued more for hard work and checking skills, especially along the boards, than scoring ability, who often sets up goal opportunities for offensive players.

Gross Misconduct

A game misconduct penalty for gross unsportsmanlike conduct. Obsolete.

The act of deliberately hitting an opponent when leading with one's head. A penalty.[13]

Healthy scratch

An uninjured player on the roster who does not dress for a game.[14] Only 20 players (22 in international competition) are allowed to dress for a game, players who are not going to play are considered scratches.

High stick

(i) (high-sticking) The act of hitting a player in the head or shoulders with a stick. A penalty (a single minor if no blood is drawn; a double minor if blood is drawn).[15]

High stick

(ii) Contacting the puck with a stick that is raised above the shoulders. If the puck is subsequently contacted again by the offending player or a teammate before an opponent touches it, the play is blown dead. A goal scored as a result of a puck being contacted by an attacking player's stick raised above the crossbar shall be disallowed.[15]

Icing occurs when a player shoots the puck across both the center red line and the opposing team's goal line without the puck going into the net or being able to be touched by an opposing player in their neutral or defensive zones. When icing occurs, a linesman stops play. Play is resumed with a faceoff in the defending zone of the team that committed the infraction. In the NHL and many professional leagues, icing can be negated if a player from the team committing the icing touches the puck before a defender, in which case play continues (the linesman nearest the puck will indicate this with a "washout" signal). In many amateur leagues, the no-touch icing rule is used, meaning play stops as soon as the puck crosses the goal line. The NHL adopted a rule where the team that committed the infraction is unable to make a line change during the stoppage to discourage teams from icing the puck to "get a whistle" and change lines; this change has been adopted by many pro and high-level amateur leagues, but not all.

A vehicle that reconditions ice before play and between periods of a game to smooth out and clean the ice for optimal glide of both puck and skate. Many may know this from the developer and brand name, Zamboni.

Interference

The act of impeding an opponent who does not control the puck. A penalty.[19]

Iron cross

A strategy used by a team defending against a five-on-three advantage. The two defencemen, a forward, and the goaltender align themselves in a diamond shape so that imaginary lines drawn through the two defencemen and through the forward and goaltender form the shape of a cross. This is usually a highly defensive strategy, designed to kill off a penalty as safely as possible.

The left wing lock is a defensive ice hockey strategy similar to the neutral zone trap. In the most basic form, once puck possession changes, the left wing moves back in line with the defensemen. Each defender (including the left winger) play a zone defense and are responsible for a third of the ice each. Since there are normally only two defensemen, this tactic helps to avoid odd man rushes.

Light the Lamp

To score a goal. A light above the net turns on when a goal is scored.

Limoges

To score an own goal, i.e.: when a defensive player scores into his own net.

A combination of a specific left winger, center, and right winger. Most teams, for the sake of chemistry, maintain specific three-man lines for different situations (first and second lines for scoring, third lines for defensive-oriented grinders, and fourth lines for pests and enforcers). Lines that play together for several years have become famous in their own right (such as the Russian Five and the French Connection).

Line brawl

A series of fights involving most, or all, players on the ice at the same time.

Linesman

An official responsible for conducting most faceoffs and for calling off-side and icing infractions. Can call some penalties. Usually two linesmen on the ice during a game.[22]

Long change

In the second period, the goaltenders change ends, meaning that the players' bench is closer to the offensive zone rather than the defensive zone. The "long change" can be a factor when a tired line is stuck in the defensive zone and cannot come off due to the increased distance to the bench.

When one team is penalized, and one of its players sent to the penalty box, the second team maintains a man advantage for the duration of the penalty (Major penalty) or until a goal is scored (Minor penalty). If two penalties are called on one team there will be a two man advantage. If more than two penalties are called on one team the man advantage is limited to two men.

Major penalty

A five-minute penalty

Match penalty

a five-minute penalty that includes automatic expulsion from the game and, depending on the league, possibly subsequent games. Often called for attempts to deliberately injure an opponent, official or fan.

A defensive strategy focused on preventing the opposing team from proceeding with the puck through the neutral zone (the area between both blue lines) and attempting to take the puck from the opposing team.

See shorthanded. Also refers to lineups, tactics and play by a team during the shorthanded period. Icing is not enforced on a shorthanded team.

Penalty shot

A penalty shot is assessed when a defender is in extreme violation of a rule to prevent a scoring opportunity. Examples are tripping a breakaway opponent from behind, the throwing of a stick or use of hands on the puck by a defender other than the goalie. The offensive player is awarded an opportunity to take control of the puck at center ice and skate in on the defending goalie one on one in an attempt to score.

A hockey statistic that can apply to a player or an offensive or defensive line indicating whether they were on the ice when the opposing team scored (a minus) or on the ice when their team scored (a plus). Goals scored when on a power-play or a penalty kill do not count for a player's plus or minus, respectively, unless a goal is scored while the scoring team is shorthanded.

A form of outdoor hockey similar to shinny. A fan might state that their team 'looks like they're playing pond hockey' if the players are not displaying the heart or concentration upon the game that their elite professional level demands.

Post-game handshake

A handshake between opposing players, who line up parallel to each other, at centre ice, after a game.

A power forward is a large, muscular offensive player (6'0" - 6'5", 210 to 240 pounds), with the mobility to track a puck to the corners of the rink, the physical toughness required to dig it out, and the puck-handling skills to get it back to anyone in front of the net.

Generally, an offensive defenceman that plays one of the points on the power play, and is adept at skating and handling the puck.

Quick whistle

A stoppage in play that occasionally occurs when an on-ice official view of the puck is obstructed while the puck is still moving or playable but the official stops the play with a whistle. The most common example of this is a goaltender appearing to have trapped the puck underneath his catcher, yet the puck is still freely moving and within legal striking distance of the opposing players. The official will whistle the play "dead" with the puck still visible to others. This often draws an unfavorable reaction from hometown crowds when the whistle negates a perceived scoring chance for the home team.

A shot that will enter the goal if it is not stopped by the goaltender. Shots that either hit the side of the net or miss the goal completely do not count as shots on goal, nor do shots that hit a goalpost or crossbar and do not cross the goal line. Similarly, shots that are stopped or otherwise played by the goalie that would not, according to the judgment of the official scorer, have scored are not counted as shots on goal.

Shootout

See penalty shot. A series of penalty shots by both teams to determine the winning team after a regulation game and overtime period ends in a tie. In the NHL this occurs only during the regular season.

Shutdown player

A player skilled at defensive play.

Shutdown pair

Two forwards or defensemen working together, fundamentally to stop the opposing team's offense players.

A snap shot is a like an abbreviated slap shot. The purpose of the snap shot is to combine the main advantages of the wrist shot (shot accuracy and quick delivery) and the slap shot (puck speed). The stick should start at your hip when shooting.

Sniper

A player with a powerful, accurate shot skilled at finishing plays.

Spin-o-rama

A phrase coined by sportscaster Danny Gallivan to describe a player completing several tight circles with the puck fully under control of his stick, eluding pursuing opponents who cannot keep up or intercept the player. Currently banned in shootouts in the NHL

Split the D

When an offensive player confuses or outmaneuvers two defensemen in order to get between them.

Stack the pads

A save wherein the goaltender drops to one side and makes the save with his leg pads.

Stand on his head

A goalie who plays extremely well and keeps his team from losing when they have not played well is said to have stood on his head.

Standup goalie

A goalie that often stays on their skates when a player shoots, as opposed to a butterfly goalie.

Stay-at-home defenseman

A defenseman who plays very defensively. He doesn't skate with the puck toward the offensive zone very often but will look to pass first. Usually the last player to leave his defensive zone.

Stick checking

Using the stick to interfere with an opponent's stick.

Stickhandling

The act of controlling the puck with one's stick, especially while maneuvering through opponents.

The act of returning to the neutral zone after a delayed offside is signaled by the linesman.

Toe drag

Dragging the puck along the ice with the end (toe) of the stick blade on the ice as opposed to pushing with the bottom edge.

Top shelf

The upper area of the goal, just below the crossbar and above the goaltender's shoulders. Also known colloquially as "where momma hides the cookies," a phrase popularized by announcer Rick Jeanneret.

Trap

Also called the "neutral zone trap", is a defensive-style hockey strategy in which a team loads up the neutral zone with players so that the opposing team has a difficult time crossing the blue line and gaining the zone.

Trapezoid

In the NHL, the trapezoidal area behind the goal line and net where the goaltender may touch the puck. A minor penalty (delay of game) is assessed if the goaltender plays the puck behind the goal line outside of the trapezoid.[1]

Trapper

See Catching glove.

Tripping

The act of knocking an opponent down by taking their feet out from under them using a stick or part of the body. A penalty.[28]

Trolley tracks

Coined by Don Cherry, the trolley tracks are two 'lanes' in the neutral zone, located midway between the center face-off dot and the boards, spanning from blue-line to blue-line. They are named this due to the common occurrence of a forward receiving a pass from his defense-man during breakout, and then getting completely demolished by an opposing player, usually because they are still looking back at where the pass had originated. This pass is often referred to as a suicide pass. It can be blamed on either the defense-man for setting up such an obvious pass, or the player receiving the pass for not keeping their head up.

Turnbuckle

The area on both ends of a bench where the edge of the glass is padded and meets the boards at a right angle. Players have been checked into the turnbuckles causing serious injury. The NHL has replaced this with rounded corners as a safer alternative.

A winger is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. A right winger is responsible for the right-hand side of the ice and a left winger is responsible for the left-hand side.